The psychophysiology of "covert" goal-directed behavior

Covert behavior is defined as behavior that is not directly visible and is thus comparable to a type of behavioral silence that requires modern psychophysiological techniques to reveal. Goal-directed behavior is teleologically purposive. Fundamentally, there are two approaches to accounting for purposeful behavior. One is the cybernetic approach, which views behavior as homeostatic and largely reflexive. The other one views behavior as a cognitive process that involves an interaction between neural events representing the previous experience, the present state of the individual, and the occurrence of particular features in the environment. This review, based on published data, presents a non-invasive psychophysiological method for investigating the electrical brain activity associated with those "silent" behaviors such as intention, evaluation of results, and memorization. Movement-related potentials (MRPs) are ideal for studying these processes. The MRPs are recorded during the execution of the skilled performance task (SPT). This task requires the execution of fast ballistic movements with the thumbs of both hands, learning a precise and short time interval between the two thumb presses, and scoring the highest number of target performances. The subject receives real-time feedback about the results of his performance. The MRPs associated with this task and present during covert behavior are the Bereitschaftspotential (BP) present before the onset of movement and the Skilled Performance Positivity (SPP) after movement, which coincides with the subject's awareness of the success or failure of his performance. These potentials show a maturational trend, reaching the adult form around the age of 10 when formal and abstract thinking progress. SPT and MRPs are particularly suitable to study neurodevelopmental disorders. Children with developmental dyslexia show abnormal MRPs, both in latency and amplitude, in different brain areas.